§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ * LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHMy Lords, this a Bill which has to pass once during every Parliament, the object being 1242 to enable additions to be made to the list of the Land Tax Commissioners in each district. After the Bill is introduced in another place notification of that fact is sent to the Land Tax Commissioners' Clerk, and he furnishes names which are afterwards put into a schedule to be signed by the Clerk of the House of Commons. This Bill is really in the nature of an Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, and I beg to move that it be read a second time.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(Lord Balfour of Burleigh.)
LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYDoes the Bill apply to Land Commissioners in London, or to the Land Commissioners all over the country? If the latter, I was hoping that the authorities at Somerset House were going to put in more responsible persons. At the present moment these matters are under the control of magistrates, who neglect the duty and place it in the hands of the Income Tax Commissioners. The Inland Revenue Department say they have no authority in this matter, and refuse to refund money which has been unjustly collected.
§ * LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHThis Bill refers to Land Tax Commissioners all over the country, and the Inland Revenue Department have no authority over these bodies; the whole of their power is derived direct from Parliament. I am not able to say how the matter came to be settled and arranged as it is, but this Bill makes no change in the existing law.
§ On Question, agreed to.
§ Bill read 2a accordingly; Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a To-morrow.